Who is John MacArthur’s wife? All about family as Prominent pastor hospitalized over pneumonia

Popular evangelical pastor and author John MacArthur has been taken to the hospital due to pneumonia, prompting concern from his fans and followers around the globe.

At age 86 MacArthur has been the pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, for more than half a century, becoming one of the most prominent voices in contemporary evangelicalism. With his health in serious decline, there has also been focus on his private life, especially on his wife, Patricia MacArthur and the couple’s family.

John MacArthur and Patricia have been married for over 60 years. According to Christianpost, their love story has had a rather unusual start. When she and John were first introduced, Patricia was supposedly engaged to another man.

🧵 The Life & Legacy of Pastor John MacArthur

John MacArthur will likely go down as the most influential pastor /theologian of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Now in the sunset of his ministry, his legacy is clear. Below is a 🧵 on how he became “Pastor John.” 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/2mqSG5vW0z

— Josh Barzon (@JoshuaBarzon) July 13, 2025

But their relationship blossomed after Patricia started making regular visits to John’s family home, as she was friends with John’s sister.

Reminiscing about their dating relationship at the 2011 Resolved Conference, MacArthur stated that he felt Patricia’s anxieties about being engaged at that time. As he became close to her, he tried to persuade her to realize that perhaps God had another plan for her, a life with him. Not long after, Patricia called off her wedding and married John.

"And I just said … honestly … I said, ‘I don’t know what the Lord is doing through this. You should know … your parents are all over you, your in-laws … ‘Maybe, it’s because … hey … who knows the Lord might want you to marry … me," John MacArthur said.

As John became known in public through his teaching ministry at Grace Community Church and his media ministry, Patricia MacArthur supposedly managed their home and provided the support structure necessary for his demanding ministry schedule.

A look into John MacArthur's health, children and their controversies

The MacArthurs have four adult children, Matt, Marcy, Mark, and Melinda, who are all married and involved in their own work and lives. Their family includes 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

The family has also seen its fair share of controversies. According to Ministry Watch, in 2023, John and Patricia’s son Mark MacArthur agreed to pay $397,000 to settle the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges, which stated that his investment advisory firm had engaged in financial wrongdoing.

MacArthur has had to fight off several health issues in recent years. He was plagued with serious breathing difficulties since early 2023 and underwent a slew of treatments and procedures on his heart and lungs.

John MacArthur may not be with us much longer.
This morning, his church announced that he’s been hospitalized with pneumonia and “may be in the presence of the Lord soon.”

This short video is from March. There’s weight in the words of a man on his final lap after a lifetime of… pic.twitter.com/ka75qNhF2s

— IrresistibleTruth 🛡 (@IrrTruth) July 13, 2025

Although he appeared to be on the mend in 2024 and posted videos to reassure fans who had been concerned about his health, his condition has supposedly deteriorated since then (Christianpost).

On July 14, 2025, it was announced to Grace Community Church members that the pastor had been hospitalized with pneumonia, and he may. Prayers for Patricia MacArthur and all of the family were requested by the church staff.